{"data":{"allMediumPost":{"edges":[{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*gWFLaXBfCRbimu5UUitVBg.jpeg","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/truth-and-reconciliation-through-community-action-4d41cb82e125?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Truth and Reconciliation through Community Action","content":"
\"\"

Acknowledging Indigenous Youth Excellence and Leadership

by Blaine Wolfe

Indigenous youth that accessed micro-grants from #RisingYouth provided strong evidence that when given the opportunity, they excel. They have proven, through the 1,000+ projects funded by #RisingYouth, that Indigenous Youth Leadership is a resource that can produce amazing community and cultural enrichment for their friends, family and neighbours.

Indigenous people in Canada often regard 7 Generations as the starting point when making decisions that will affect the community. How will a decision we make today affect the next generation? How is our history affecting us, and what do we need to do today to heal those on Turtle Island?

Despite these challenges, youth beneficiaries of #RisingYouth micro-grants helped support two key foundations that this writer has observed in children, youth and families while working in education, mental health, and child welfare over the past 20 years; Cultural Ownership and Community as Medicine.

Cultural Ownership

The ability for Indigenous people in Canada to have easy access to their traditions is relatively new, as even Pow-wows were illegal until 1954. Being able to interact with one’s traditions, language, and culture is incredibly important when developing a sense of identity and heritage. The capacity to access crafting materials, fishing gear, and traditional music can be difficult in many communities, due to the historical and systemic racism of the Residential School system, and the Indian Act.

Indigenous youth delivered projects that allowed their community to reconnect with their traditions, and offer time for knowledge keepers and Elders to share their traditional knowledge. Projects that may seem like simple activities at first, such as Fishing on Great Slave Lake or making Inuit Mittens for winter, allow people to interact with their culture with their hands, a hallmark of learning about culture when we are children.

\"\"
#RisingYouth Project Photo

The 94 Calls to Action laid out in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission(TRC) in 2015 addressed the need for Canada to make targeted efforts to reconcile the history of Residential Schools in Canada and the government’s relationship with Indigenous People.

Youth projects supported by #RisingYouth addressed many of these Legacy Calls-to-Action; the History of Child Welfare and Indigenous children, Education barriers, Language and Culture access, Health and Addiction, and the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in the Justice system. Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) project leaders also delivered education about the truths that faced young women historically and today.

A tactile relationship with your own culture, whether its Mitts on your hands, a song in your throat, or your drumstick making the heartbeat of the Earth, all broadens the impact on personal growth and can reconnect people to lost or rusty art, craft, and traditional living skills.

Community as Medicine

The community has always been a large part of Indigenous culture, both Pre- and Post-Contact with Europeans. The community represents our larger extended family, our cousins and aunties, your teachers and Elders, all working towards supporting the next generations.

Now less than 25 years since the closing of the last Residential School in Canada (the last school closed in 1997 in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.), our communities have the space for healing. Youth demonstrated through their collaboration efforts that creating micro-communities of knowledge and experience can help facilitate larger discussions about the role of togetherness for positive life outcomes. Community as Medicine reconnects us to a way of being that we hear in our stories, creating a safe foundation for youth to explore our world and try new things.

\"\"
#RisingYouth Project Photo

#RisingYouth alumni provided community services in a variety of dynamic and creative ways. The Maamwi Noojmadaa project offered participants wellness and cultural activities for youth in Wikwemkoong, while a 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Festival in Newfoundland provided space to empower intersectionality marginalized communities. While community growth flourishes when we come together, youth also remembered those individuals that may have mobility or access issues to gatherings. Youth provided food, mental health kits, and Elder care packages to those that may not be able to attend a gathering for a variety of reasons, demonstrating that community inclusion and growth takes place when we support people where they are, judgement free.

Youth Leadership in Action

Jocelyn Kagige, with her partner Brooke Debassige, planned and delivered the Mamwii Noojmadaa Wellness Workshop in Wikwemkoong First Nation. She shared that the workshop provided a safe place for the youth of Wikwemkoong to “Connect with [each other and culture] and let their inner light shine”, as Jocelyn put it when I interviewed her for this article.

Jocelyn and Brooke’s project directly address issues mentioned in the TRC Calls-to-Action, as their project focused on issues relating to Health, Culture, Education, and Justice. By providing a space for youth to explore their culture and ideas of wellness, through yoga, leadership classes, and fun cultural activities, Maamwi Noojmadaa supported youth in their healing journeys. While there were the regular challenges in her project, overall, she believes it was both a success and greatly appreciated by the youth in attendance.

When I asked what is next for her, Jocelyn shared that she is planning the next Mamwii style event, but hopes next time it will be delivered over 2 days, and include all 7 communities of Manitoulin Island. Busses would bring youth from across the island to take part in a multi-day celebration of wellness and culture. Considering their past successes, one can imagine a larger event will only offer more exciting challenges for them to solve, and allow young people the opportunity to watch amazing youth Leaders succeed.

Leadership for Community and the next Generation

The large issues facing Youth today are greater than any one leader can solve on their own. Projects delivered by #RisingYouth alumni showed that through coordination, collaboration, and resource sharing, problems on the horizon can be made more manageable by the successful creation of community and Mutual Aid networks. Building relationships with other helpers and organizations can be an amazing way to expand ideas, delegate work, and just have someone to laugh with are all beneficial to the development of strong communities.

\"\"
#RisingYouth Project Photo

Additionally, not only did alumni address core issues that are facing Indigenous people today, but also allowed younger generations to see Indigenous leadership and excellence in action.

Strong youth leadership ensures that there will always be a voice to carry on our traditions and history, and will ensure that for generations to come, Indigenous people in Canada will be proud of their heritage.

As the decades go by, I hope that Truth and Reconciliation is well integrated into the Canadian psyche. Envision a world where Indigenous youth have healthier opportunities and have access to their culture, traditions, and also their language. Youth leadership can guide us to that future, where ownership of culture, language, and identity are as intertwined as they were for our ancestors. We just need to give youth the chance to succeed. They will always blow away our expectations.

Blaine Wolfe is an up-and-coming Freelance Writer, Novelist, and Performance Artist. He presently calls Curve Lake First Nation home, near his Birthplace of Peterborough Ontario. He is a proud Ojibwe content creator and is excited to start this new journey of creativity.

\"\"

Truth and Reconciliation through Community Action was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/762/1*RTIyJfxpuEKSgT2Ry-A4cA.png","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/building-unity-amongst-south-sudanese-youth-304a7c69fc2d?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Building Unity Amongst South Sudanese Youth","content":"

Q&A’s with Olga Loggale

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
Hello, my name is Olga Loggale. I was born in Khartoum, Sudan prior to the separation of the country, however my family is from the country now known as South Sudan. I immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2002 but have since come to call Edmonton, Alberta home after moving here in 2003.

Although I have lived in Alberta for nearly 20 years, I still feel that I will never become accustomed to our harsh winters. Nonetheless, after starting kindergarten and finishing my undergrad here, immersing myself in the Edmonton community, and getting to know the ins and outs of the city, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

What community/communities are you part of ?
I like to think that I am apart of many communities within Edmonton. For starters, I am apart of both the general South Sudanese community, as well as the South Sudanese Youth community. I am also more broadly apart of our Black community through my identity and my involvement in initiatives and organizations such as YEGTheComeUp, or the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership program. As a science enthusiast who completed a Bachelors of Science in biological sciences, I have participated in a number of science based research initiatives, and is an editor for the Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Literacy. I like to believe I am also apart of the science community. Being apart of multiple communities influences my perspectives on life by giving me multiple perspectives. I have the honour to meet and interact with such diverse populations every time I immerse myself in these communities and it is always an opportunity to learn something new. Moreover, I feel that I find a sense of peace and joy in being with these varying communities. I genuinely believe there is healing in community and I feel honoured that I get to experience this regularly. That is not to say things are always sunshine and rainbows, but even in the difficult times, it is so comforting to know that you are surrounded by others who care enough to work through challenges and make a difference.

\"\"

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I am passionate about people (cliché, I know). For as long as I can remember I have loved meeting new people, making connections, and ultimately just being around people. I think over time this has transitioned to doing community work as it allows me constant opportunities to build relationships with others. Since then, an additional passion of mine has become increasing the capacity of the communities I am so lucky to be apart of. I believe that the people around me have so much potential to be great at anything and everything they choose to do, and it is so exciting to be apart of those journeys. As for hobbies and things I do for leisure, I like to paint, do puzzles, and play guitar. I am also pretty passionate about health and fitness and spend quite a bit of time working out, running, or hiking in the summer.

\"\"

How did the idea for this project come to you?
The emergence of this project was more due to reflection. For a long time, the concerns and needs of South Sudanese youth in Canada had been largely ignored by the adults and elders in the community. Our community leaders have worked tirelessly to support the integration of South Sudanese immigrants into Canada over the past few decades but have focused their efforts on the older populations within the community. As a result, South Sudanese youth within Canada have faced issues related to integration in areas such as academics, social engagement, and cultural adjustment. In acknowledging this dire need of support for our youth, the South Sudanese Youth Committee (SSYC) was formed by a group of youth across Canada to navigate ways we could address and remedy these issues. Ultimately, we came up with this project — the South Sudanese Youth of Canada national conference. More specifically, our objectives for this conference were to gather SSY across the country, identify challenges facing the SSY, brainstorm potential solutions, and develop connections to help combat the identified challenges.

This 3-day event included a basketball tournament on day 1, the actual conference on day 2, and a farewell barbecue on day 3. The basketball tournament and barbecue were crucial as they provided an opportunity for the cultivating and strengthening of relationships between attendees. The creation of these relationships was important to help facilitate open discussion on conference day, as well as execution of solutions following our event.

\"\"
\"\"

The structure of the conference day was divided into two parts. The first portion consisted of performances, speaker presentations speakers and a panel discussion. The aim of this portion was to provide young people an opportunity to listen and interact with elders, and leaders in the South-Sudanese community. The second portion was targeted exclusively towards the youth. Youth attended workshops focusing on the themes of I.D.E.A.S (Inspire, Discover, Engage, Achieve, and Success). These workshops offered a safe and open platform for discussion necessary for identification of the key issues facing SSY across the country. Each theme had its own workshop facilitated by a member of SSYC who posed a series of questions for discussion for a smaller group of youth which had been divided from the larger group. Following the conclusion of the workshops, all the attendees regrouped and shared their ideas and responses with each other.

What was your motivation behind this project?
I believe the main motivation for this project was to sow the seeds for sustainable change amongst South Sudanese Youth in Canada both now, and in the future. The majority of individuals that initially formed SSYC were first-generation immigrants who were raised in Canada, and therefore had grown up having to navigate a balance between Canadian, and South Sudanese culture. For many of us, this was a difficult journey with an array of challenges and hardships, but as a result we now understand the types of supports that are necessary to make either integration, or balancing two cultures, significantly easier and more successful. Moreover, we believe it is our responsibility to garner these supports and share them with our fellow youth to help tackle the challenges we are currently facing and equip youth in the future with the tools to overcome anything they may face.

How did your community react to your project? Have they been encouraged to get involved in any other ways?
The reaction from the community was incredible and I do not think that any of us could have imagined such an outcome when we initially began planning. The actual conference day had nearly 200 attendees from across Canada, many of whom offered positive feedback about the execution of the conference. We found that throughout the conference, particularly on conference day during the panel discussion and workshops, the attendees were extremely engaged and more than willing to contribute to the ongoing conversations. I believe that this conveyed the desire of our youth to want to get involved and we eventually saw this with the overwhelming number of attendees who reached out to SSYC following the conference to know how they could become apart of the work we were doing.

We also received support from various elders and leaders within the SSYC community. This included those who agreed to present at the conference, as well as those who were helping behind the scenes such as the group of women coordinated cooking various traditional dishes for all the attendees on conference day. Outside of our own community, we received immense support from the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, the Edmonton Community Foundation, and of course, Rising Youth. In addition, the conference managed to gain the attention of the Edmonton Journal and CBC News.

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
I believe the most prominent impact was the unity created amongst the youth in our community. The conference provided South Sudanese youth an opportunity to come together and see that we are all facing similar challenges and have the ability to work together to overcome them. The engagement from the attendees made it clear that many of them shared similar sentiments as the committee and wished to see change for themselves and future youth. An additional impact I believe this conference had was inspiring our youth to implement solutions in their communities.

\"\"

At the conference, we had a feedback wall for all the attendees with two questions: “what have you learned about our communities’ challenges?” and “what have you learned about our communities’ strengths?” For the former question, many attendees spoke to the tribalism within our community, the lack of support for youth, intergenerational gaps, and a sense of apathy within our community — challenges that we similarly identified when planning the conference. However, the latter question really highlighted the sense of inspiration the conference ignited within the attendees. Here, comments such as “the youth in our community want to see a change and they have the drive to make this change”, and “[there] exists a sense of togetherness amongst youth”, were littered throughout the wall.

Additionally, I believe this conference really put us on the map with the elders in our community as it showcased our desire to be involved in our community. Since it occurred, the elders have began involving youth in events, and even reaching out to collaborate. We have been able to learn so much from our elders about our culture and life in general, which is vital for the youth who will someday become the elders and leaders of their community.

In all honestly, I am not sure that the impact we had was what I expected. While I was certainly hoping the conference would help jumpstart necessary conversations, I didn’t expect so many youths to be so eager to take immediate action. To this day, I am still ecstatic at the impact it did have on youth, and it has been an absolute pleasure seeing the positive initiatives that have arisen from it, which includes our community development taskforce that aims to change the culture within the South-Sudanese community by developing relationships (social events), providing learning opportunities (workshops) and inspiring community involvement (volunteerism).

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
I believe that this conference was the beginning of me deciding to dedicate myself to my community. I too left the conference feeling unbelievably inspired and confident in my ability to contribute to change. During my time planning this conference I began to learn a variety of skills such as teamwork, time management, and organization, that I continue to learn and apply in the work I do. Since the first SSY conference, I have been able to collaborate with a variety of individuals and organizations within the South Sudanese community. This has included working with the elders in the community to carry out several events — including a bi-annual conference that had never before included the input of youth. I have also stepped outside of the South Sudanese community to volunteer and work with other organizations such as YEGTheComeUp and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to help bring this project to life as the ultimate impact of planning and executing this conference was discovering my passion for people, community, and being the change I want to see.

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
I think the most challenging part of this project was starting. Our group was adamant on this project being for the youth by the youth, and therefore wanted to complete it without too much influence from the elders in our community. Due to this, we had to navigate everything from locating a venue, to finding funding, to creating an itinerary for all three days, to advertising and marketing our project. In all honesty, it did seem a bit daunting at the beginning. The reality was that we were a group of youth with limited resources (at the start anyways), but we had an abundance of motivation and dedication within the group that really drove this project forward.

This dedication showed when we did face challenges, because everyone would immediately have a problem-solving mindset and commit themselves to overcoming it. As with most things in life, there were definitely some bumps on our path. This included everything from struggling to find funding, to time conflicts and work overload since most of us were also students at the time. Nonetheless, I think that most of these challenges could easily be overcome in the future by giving ourselves the time and grace to complete such a large project. The first conference was a learning experience, and although it went well overall, there are certainly a lot of smaller things we can tweak to improve the experience for everyone, including the planning committee. The first time really gave us a foundation, so moving forward we know what planning entails, and I think that creating an overarching plan for how to tackle the organization of the conference could really be beneficial and limit the challenges we face, and the burnout members may feel.

\"\"

Building Unity Amongst South Sudanese Youth was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*GHIuGnxkt-CmYuE_vyULtQ.png","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/raising-awareness-on-clean-drinking-water-f779bfc0c7e8?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Raising Awareness on Clean Drinking Water","content":"

Q&A’s with Wen Tao Gu

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
I live in Saint John New Brunswick Canada, but I was originally from China.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I have very few hobbies but I have a huge passion for drawing, and I absolutely love cats!

How did the idea for this project come to you?
When I first began planning my project, I was really unsure and honestly, I just really wanted to get it over with. After I saw the impact that others made through their project, I was a little inspired and thought I could do something to help my community too. My project idea came from a moment of daily life; my mom forgot to filter the water before she boiled it,so I heard her complaining how the water was dirty. An idea just came up and I thought I could do something with the idea of water filtration because I actually know so many people who don’t filter their water before consumption.

\"\"

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
The impact I had on my project was somewhat minimal because I only presented to a class of 28 people, but I was happy to raise awareness to my peers.

\"\"

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
Conducting a community project, the action itself had a huge impact on me. My confidence grew and through my project and research, I now have knowledge that will remain with me for the future years to come.

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
To youth who are thinking of doing a Rising Youth project I would really encourage you to just go for it! Even if you’re unsure like I was at the beginning, no matter what your project idea is, whether it’s big or small you should go for it and give it a try. By the end of it all, you will gain something no matter what, so there isn’t anything to lose! I would really like to thank Imagine NB for introducing me to Rising Youth and for Rising Youth to have given me such a great opportunity to show me what I’m capable of. Project management was a skill that I actually never even dreamed of having before, at least not at this age, so thank you again.

\"\"

Raising Awareness on Clean Drinking Water was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*bbbwBAIKKaYz1j-ZqcovFw.png","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/indigenous-legal-responses-to-a-historic-year-1074f7e23d7a?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Indigenous Legal Responses to a Historic Year","content":"

Q&A’s with Gavin Wilkes

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
I call two places home, one being Peace River in Alberta where my father lives and Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories where my mother lives. I have fond memories of each place, and I have learned many things during my time in both places.

Currently, I live in Edmonton Alberta where I am a second-year law student at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law. So for the past couple of years, and for the next few Edmonton will be my home.

What community/communities are you part of ?
The communities I am a part of are my Dene Indigenous community back home with friends, family, and some elders back in Fort Simpson, the Indigenous legal community through the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA), the broader legal community through my law school peers, and the theatre community here in Edmonton from my background education and personal interests.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I am passionate about Indigenous advocacy, equitable and fair representation by and within the legal system, and storytelling. These passions on the legal side stem from my love of philosophy, which I was exposed to in my undergraduate degree. The Indigenous focus of some of my passions comes from my identity and my journey to help in ways within my capacity and within my ability because of the privileges I have been able to experience and take advantage of.

Some of my hobbies are acting, playwriting, reading, writing, playing soccer, badminton, golf, and weightlifting. I find that my current education keeps me sitting down and focusing on a screen for many hours of the day, so I like to make sure that my hobbies give me the chance to move, get outside, and make sure my physical fitness is in check.

How did the idea for this project come to you?
The idea of the project came from one of my law school peers, Justin Hjlesvold, who came up with the plan of a virtual Speaker Series event so many different Indigenous speakers could discuss topics of importance from various parts of the country. The name of the project was “Indigenous Legal Responses to an Historic Year”.

When I was asked to take part in the event, I did not hesitate to give my efforts to this project. It was amazing to have legal professionals, scholars, academics, and activists come to speak to Indigenous perspectives and experiences in varying fields during the pandemic when it was in its first year.

\"\"

What was your motivation behind this project?
The motivation behind the project was that as executive members of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA), it was important that we plan, organize, and structure an event that could be attended by people within the Faculty of Law, the broader U of A community, Edmonton community, and then across the country. Further, the project gave people the chance to come to an educational event that did not require costs of travel or attendance.

\"\"

How did your community react to your project? Have they been encouraged to get involved in any other ways?
The student body at the Faculty of Law well attended the event, as well as faculty members and the public community. It was a success and it was a great event that I think led to many people leaving the week with a sense of encouragement to get more involved with Indigenous initiatives and discussion, especially on how the pandemic had affected so many Indigenous communities and nations.

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
At the time it was, to me, more of an event that was just to be put on to give people a chance to learn materials and knowledge from an Indigenous-driven focus, but it grew to be much more than that. It was a chance for people to come together during a time of isolation, and the virtual aspect gave the project an even broader reach which was a huge positive. Accessibility is always an important and key aspect of event planning when I am involved with events and initiatives, and this was a case of changing the negative perspective of online participation into the positivity of ease of accessibility.

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
The project put me out there as a #RisingYouth alumnus, which eventually led to opportunities to be involved in alumni collaborations, speak at a national event that featured some amazing Indigenous artists, creators, and activists, and then towards the opportunity to be an Indigenous Mentor with TakingITGlobal.

I know it was also not just a project that ended and that was it, it was an experience that created new forms of thinking, opportunities for collaboration, and the ability to meet so many amazing people. Your project is more than a project, and if you let it, it can be a catalyst for personal development and an explosion of opportunity. As an alumnus, you will continue to be included in initiatives and the many amazing conversations.

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
Some bumps in the road along the way in the Speaker Series project was that some speakers could not make it, and it became a well-fought battle of being on top of communications, creative thinking on speaker replacement, and being determinative to make sure that we could stick to our timelines.

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
I would tell youth that this is one of the best chances you have to actualize your dream idea because not only do you have the flexibility to create the project how you want, but you will be so supported and encouraged during all stages. The positivity and encouragement you will get from the application to the final report are outstanding. Lastly, even when the project is complete, you will enter into an amazing community of alumni who can be great people to form relationships with, as well as be reached out to to constantly be involved to your level of capacity.

\"\"

Indigenous Legal Responses to a Historic Year was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*eGs8ZYPtGMKLjRrDLZ_xhw.png","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/closing-the-gender-gap-in-stem-with-quantahacks-3d2c06993e5?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Closing the Gender Gap in STEM with Quantahacks","content":"

Q&A’s with Sophie Feng

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
As of now, I call Port Moody and the Tri-cities area home. It features gorgeous hiking trails, lakes, and other natural attractions. I love visiting Rocky Point with friends to enjoy the view at all times during the year as well as, of course, the ice cream!

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I’m very passionate about the intersection between technology and society — examining how new technology impact people on the individual, communal, and even global level. Digital tools and the Internet have permeated my life since childhood. I’ve constantly seen and experienced both their transformative benefits and their potentially damaging consequences. By learning more about the human impact of these innovations, I hope to help build more equitable and humane technologies.

What was your motivation behind this project?
With the support of the executive team at the non-profit STEM for FEM that I lead, I wanted to encourage more technology equity around the world by introducing underrepresented groups to a hackathon-style event, Quantahacks. In particular, we wanted to engage youth, the future change-makers of our world, with current issues like global warming, health, and social good through the lens of technology. It was a collaborative process from beginning to end, and without the STEM for FEM executive team, Quantahacks wouldn’t have been possible.

\"\"

How did your community react to your project?
Through Quantahacks, we connected girls and other minority groups around the world with mentors in the sciences to help them build their hackathon projects. I was supported by countless mentors, peers, and corporate sponsors who helped judge submissions, host engaging workshops and provide office hours to beginner hackers. Additionally, the Rising Youth team was incredibly helpful in helping me promote the event by connecting me with media outlets and walking me through how to write a press release.

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
Quantahacks also created opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM and encouraged many to take the first step into the world of computer programming, encouraging them to pursue their passions and offering valuable resources to support their aspirations. We focused specifically on targeting underrepresented groups in STEM like girls through our marketing, which may contribute to decreasing the gender disparity in these fields.

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
As the first time hosting such a big initiative, Quantahacks taught me a lot about how to communicate with large numbers of participants, speakers, and organizers through online platforms, facilitate meaningful experiences such as virtual workshops, effectively reach out to potential sponsors and students, and create an engaging event for everyone involved. It was inspiring to see the impact that my and my team’s efforts could have on the STEM community, and we learned to work together in delegating tasks and discussing ideas to bring the event to life. In particular, I found myself repetitively challenged yet invigorated by the process, such as figuring out logistics and organizing tasks within my team. Next time, I hope to bring more plentiful and interactive workshops to provide more opportunities in STEM for our organization’s audience, as well as apply what I learned from running Quantahacks to create a smoother experience overall.

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help! As a young person, mentors and people with experience in the communities you want to help are incredibly valuable to helping you succeed with your #RisingYouth project. This could be as simple as asking for advice from community leaders you admire or asking for feedback from the supportive #RisingYouth staff helping you on your journey.

\"\"

Closing the Gender Gap in STEM with Quantahacks was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*W94wqDagBDVuaRyoCZZqbg.png","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/shedding-light-on-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-girls-d9f920e2bc1d?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Shedding Light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls","content":"

Q&A’s with Tayrn Hachey

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
I am from Metepenagiag (Red Bank) First Nation and I am Mi’kmaq. Which is a part of Miramichi, New Brunswick. I attend James M Hill high school. I am 18 and in Grade 12.

What community/communities are you part of ?
I am part of the Indigenous community and the LGBTQ+ community. I feel that since I am a part of these communities I am extremely open-minded. I have a positive perspective on life because I used to let negativity rule my everyday life and it nearly destroyed me. I refuse to go back to that.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
 I am passionate about my culture as it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful thing in the world. My passion for my culture comes from being at pow wows at a very young age to now. It’s crazy though that how my people used to live we only truly see it in certain months out of the year and that makes me sad.

How did the idea for this project come to you?
When I heard about a class where I can learn what I want, I knew immediately I wanted to do something with my culture. I just didn’t know what exactly.

What was your motivation behind this project?
My motivation behind this project was to educate my peers and teachers on the truth about Indigenous cultures. I was tired of being forced to listen to ignorant and racist opinions about something I love dearly and something that is a part of me and my family. I attend a primarily white school so there was a need for education.

\"\"

The only thing that kept me going through any problems was the fact that my people have been abused for centuries so I owe it to them to defend who we are as people.

How did your community react to your project? Have they been encouraged to get involved in any other ways?
Aside from a select few, when my peers heard about an Action campaign surrounding Indigenous Issues of Today, I don’t think they cared. They are 16–18, I didn’t expect much from them.

\"\"

I find my best positive reaction, which wasn’t family, has been from my co-workers at Mike’s bar and grill. I would often come into work and they would ask me questions upon questions about my project and my culture and they always seemed so proud.

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
My project has become me as a person. It’s become a topic of discussion when I’m asked “So how is school”. It opens doors for me in the sense where I feel “more” mi’kmaq. I am part mi’kmaq and part white. But, I have skin as white as snow. Before my project, I was so sad that I knew little about my culture. My parents are separated and I live with my mother who is white. She is the most “I fight for my family and their culture” person you would ever meet. Her life’s mission has been to educate her friends and family about my culture the best she could, but she is white. So there is only so much she could do. Due to that, I had always felt like mi’kmaq was a part of me, but I wasn’t a part of Mi’kmaq. I would fight until the day I die for my culture and my people but I didn’t know much about it. This project has been my lesson plan to my people and I love it.

\"\"

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
The bumps I faced was how to overcome my anger when I was given racist “opinions” that “didn’t seem” racist. I have fought for days on end with people about the beauty of my culture, and that’s something I will never regret. I never overcame my anger about this and I never will.

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
I would tell them to choose something small that would have a huge impact. Less is more. It’s hard to manage a personal life and your project. When you make your project a big deal, the expectations are high and it’s scary. But, you don’t need to impress anyone. When people see good they expect good. The only person you need to impress is yourself. You let others’ opinions inflict what you do, you’re done.

\"\"

Shedding Light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*mmyekIjHvgGoK6sjiR43sg.jpeg","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/superheroines-and-superheroes-bringing-us-closer-to-nature-563865a8a401?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Superheroines and Superheroes Bringing Us Closer to Nature","content":"

Q&A’s with Chúk Odenigbo

\"\"

Where are you from?
I am from the city of Calgary, Alberta.

Which community(ies) are you part of?
I am part of the Franco-Albertan community, a small pluralist community with a plethora of accents, cultures, and ways of being but united by a language and a strong sense of activism. According to the results of the 2016 census, Alberta’s native French-speaking population figure among the fastest-growing Francophone populations in the country. Between 2006 and 2016, this population increased by about 27%. Excluding Quebec, Alberta’s Francophone minority population ranks third after Ontario and New Brunswick in terms of numbers.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I am passionate about the connections between nature, health, and culture. I am absolutely fascinated by how everything is connected. I fondly remember the hours spent reading quietly under a tree or contemplating the clouds during my early childhood. Being in my backyard enjoying the sky without limits has always brought me back into my element. However, because of the dehumanization of Black people, there was (and still is) a strong tendency for Black people to be highly urbanized in Canada to show that we are civilized. Therefore, I was never fully introduced to nature as a white child might be. Moreover, even after earning a degree in environmental science and finding a job in the environmental sector, my race often played a role in my ability to do my job and be outdoors. I even remember the occasions when my language acted as a barrier in my efforts to combat environmental degradation. In short, from a young age, I realized that factors related to my identity impacted my ability to be in nature, which made nature bring a different meaning to me than my peers in class/work.

Tell us about the project
“Les Force de la Nature” (The Forces of Nature) is an illustrated story about a group of superheroines and superheroes who have been chosen by the personification of Canadian nature to save Canada from the bad people who keep Canadians from enjoying the outdoors. This story was written for teenagers and young adults to address the challenges that this age group is facing by trying to approach blue and green spaces. This story uses its various characters to address the need for representation in the outdoors, allowing readers to see themselves in nature through these superheroines and those superheroes who resemble them.

The story also aims to achieve Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals: To enable all people to live in good health and promote the well-being of all at all ages. Contact with Nature is shown to be statistically a source of happiness and well-being. Spending time in nature has many beneficial effects on physical and mental health. The latter not only promotes physical activity, but also the reduction of stress, the improvement of blood pressure and the functioning of the immune system.

Conversely, studies show that bringing people closer to nature sparks a desire to protect and conserve nature and biodiversity.

\"\"

To create this allegory, I teamed up with a group of young Canadians from across the country. Everyone, under the age of 30, worked hard to create this work: artist Andie Lafrentz of Edmonton, Alberta; graphic designer Sara Qarizada from Toronto, Ontario; English-speaking editor Samantha Matters from Edmonton, Alberta; Francophone editor Vickie Arsenault from Lorraine, Quebec; Zico He from Toronto, Ontario, who is the voice of the English version of the audiobook; and Gabriel Tougas from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who is the voice of the French version of the audiobook.

“Les Force de la Nature” (The Forces of Nature) is now available for free on the following platforms:

E-book:
https://www.kobo.com/ca/fr/ebook/les-forces-de-la-nature Issuu: https://issuu.com/lplp.tpta/docs/digital_bilingual_book

Audiobook:
https://soundcloud.com/lplp-tpta/sets/les-forces-de-la-nature-lenfant-de-gaia

Podomatic:
https://forcesofnature.podomatic.com/

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0BFueshf3hzO6i3RhPurIB

How did you come up with the idea for this project?
In 2015, I joined a team of citizen ecologists put together by the Canadian Parks Council. The question we are asked: How do we reconnect Canadians with nature? Together, across the country, we worked on solutions that resulted in “Sortons jouer dans la nature” (Let’s Go Out play in Nature), a playbook aimed at inspiring the whole Canadian population to act to bring the new generation into contact with nature. This publication became Canada’s official submission to the World Parks Congress by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Hawaii in 2016, and an international version was made under the name “Le livre de jeu #NaturePourTous” (The #NatureForAll Playbook).

While working on “Sortons jouer dans la nature” (Let’s Go Out Play in Nature), I realized how much my experiences are shared by many people and that the root of my experiences: the fact that in the most multicultural country in the world, we have given a face to nature. I therefore felt the need to continue the momentum of this action plan to strengthen the link between the young people and the environment and to continue their efforts to redefine nature as for all.

The idea for the book came to her one evening in the summer of 2017, when Hollywood superhero movies were ubiquitous. It was midnight and I was walking in a park when, suddenly, I had this vision, I saw the characters, a vague story idea came to me and I called Samantha Matters, a mixed-race friend, around 3 a.m., trying to explain it all to her. She joined right away! Samantha Matters’ personal commitment can be explained by her own experience. Having had to move to the city, she became aware of the ease and speed of detachment from nature that distance brings.

What was your motivation behind this project?
“Les Force de la Nature” (The Forces of Nature) refers to a set of thirteen superheroines and superheroes consciously chosen to illustrate national ethnic diversity in an inclusive way. Each protagonist personifies Canadian nature in their own way. None of them wear costumes or magic accessories so that the reader can identify themselves de facto. In the same vein, superpowers are organic, derived from nature, and used against anti-heroes who prevent citizens from enjoying the outdoors. Through the pages, we clearly feel the authors’ desire to encourage young people to discover the closeness of nature that corresponds to them intrinsically through the wanderings of Kyle, Guylaine, and their cronies. They engage in lesser-known but worthwhile activities, such as collecting garbage on beaches or those more “relaxing” and accessible that are the simple fact of admiring the Milky Way or visiting an aquarium. Our book aims not only to show the diversity of thoughts, personalities, and approaches of practices in the natural environment, but also to show that all are equal. There is no single one or one that would be more valuable than the others.

\"\"

How has your community responded to your project? Were they encouraged to get involved in other ways?
It was very well received! I was invited to talk about it on ICI Radio-Canada in Alberta and the book was mentioned by several French-language newspapers across the country such as La Source from British Columbia. It felt so good to be celebrated by the Greater French-Canadian community.

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
45 physical copies of the book were printed. 5 are with MEC to distribute as they please, 5 are with Ocean Wise to distribute as they please, 1 is with the Honourable Minister McKenna, Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 1 is with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 1 copy is in the library of the School of Public Health at the Université de Montréal, 1 copy is with the administration of the MIL alternative campus of the Université de Montréal, 1 copy is with the University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association, 1 is in the library of the Salzburg Global Seminar, Salzburg, Austria (a gathering place for decision-makers from all over the world to discuss methods to change the world), 1 was given free of charge in a contest by Starfish, a non-profit organization aiming to create a network of young environmentalists across Canada, 4 were distributed as prizes at the two launch parties in Edmonton and Montreal, and 2 were the prizes for various events as part of Oceans Week in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

\"\"

We also received media support from:

Culture. Journal La Source. « La nature : pour toutes et tous » June 25, 2019.

Récits. Le Grand Sentier. « On peut tous être un héros: une parution qui souligne les bénéfices de la protection de l’environnement et de l’inclusion » May 16, 2019.

Stories. The Great Trail. « We can be heroes: New book highlights benefits of environmental protection and inclusion » May 16, 2019.

Compliance Insights. Nimonik. « Diversifying Environmental Outreach » May 14, 2019.

Local Laundry Weekly Blog. Local Laundry. « Guest Blog — The Poison and The Apple by Samantha Matters » May 10, 2019.

News. Salzburg Global Seminar. « Entertaining, Inspiring, and Educating People About Nature » April 17, 2019.

Journal. The Starfish. « A New Book Release About How All Young Canadians Have the Power to Save the Earth » April 12, 2019.

Le Café Show. Radio-Canada. « Des superhéros pour sauver la nature » April 11, 2019.

Aquablog. Ocean Wise. « The Story Behind the Story: The Forces of Nature » February 20, 2019.

What impact has the project had on your daily life?
I grew up watching Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, fight against apartheid and racism, while trying to maintain peace between different ethnic groups; Michaëlle Jean, the former Governor General of Canada and the first Black woman to be head of state of a Western country, devote herself to the defence of the Francophonie, women’s rights, and the rights of ethnic minorities among other causes; and Christiane Taubira, the former Keeper of the Seals and Minister of Justice of France, to carry out the law to the recognition of the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity, in addition to being a great defender of rights of the LGBTQ community.

So, I wondered what my contribution to society would be? With all these leaders who have changed the world so that people like me can thrive, what can I do to make this planet am even better place for the generation? Here are the questions that followed me.

While working on “Les Force de la Nature: L’Enfant de Gaïa” (The Forces of Nature: Gaia’s Child), I did a lot of research on the importance of nature to human health. I learned that there is a dearth of published studies on the impacts of static nature (nature itself) on health. Most studies looked at outdoor movement or ecosystem services, but the benefits that nature brings to a human being sitting on a bench in a park remain largely unknown. This reignited my thirst for research, and I made the decision to go back to school to continue my studies and contribute to this lack of knowledge. I am currently a PhD student in Medical Geography at the Laboratory for Health and Environmental Analysis, a laboratory that “supports interdisciplinary research by examining the relationships between human health and factors environmental, social, health care, and geographic to inform public health policies and strategies.” Medical geography is a highly multidisciplinary discipline that considers the environmental implications, human behaviour, and culture of a society as well as other factors in the creation of public policies.

I aim to be an engaged leader and scholar; which to me means being an agent of change. I am also the founding director of Future Ancestors Services. Along with Larissa Crawford (Founder) and Samantha Matters (Founding Director), we started a Canadian start-up led by an Indigenous and Black team that offers community services, specialized training in public speaking and research. Our goal is to address systemic issues in our societies that disadvantage some people; harm our connection with nature; and, have a negative impact on the well-being of the environment. These services aim to help people facing disproportionate barriers in all areas by raising their visions, voices, and services contractual; all this while strengthening the capacity of non-profit organizations, both private and public, to engage with diverse people in meaningful and appropriate ways.

\"\"

Were there any obstacles on the road or things you could do differently in the future?
It’s very difficult to find a good talented and committed team. This takes time and I learned the importance of not forcing a dynamic that doesn’t work.

What would you say to a young person who is considering a project #RisingYouth?
“[Young people] are determined more by the beautiful side of an action than by its usefulness. They are lead more according to their moral character than according to calculation; but the calculation is about interest, and virtue is about what is beautiful. They have a taste for friendship and camaraderie more than other ages, because they enjoy living together and nothing is yet appreciated by them from the point of view of interest; therefore, neither do their friends. Their faults always come from what they do more and more vehemently than is appropriate, despite the precept of Chilon, because they exaggerate everything, friendship as hatred, and all other feelings as well. They believe they know everything and decide on all things.” — Aristotle

Be fully yourself. By recognizing your identity as a young person, and all that it entails, infuse it into the work you want to do. Make it unique for you.

Be confident in who you are, but also be aware of where you need to evolve.

\"\"

Is there anything else you would like to add?
In light of the recognition of the Anthropocene, an era where human beings are the greatest force for change on planet Earth, a few environmentalists advocate for a healthy, diverse, and abundant nature through post-natural conservation. The post-natural conservation puts forward the idea that there is no such thing as a virgin nature and that it is no longer possible to dissociate human activity from nature. Therefore, we need to rethink our understanding nature and how to act to save it. Instead of referring to the past with nostalgia, or the present with despair, Erle C. Ellis, for example, says that “the only limitation in creating a planet that future generations will be proud of is our imagination and social systems. As we move towards a better Anthropocene, the environment will be what we get out of it.”

\"\"

Superheroines and Superheroes Bringing Us Closer to Nature was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/825/1*TU4l4ZwcGaFG7xHyHEGk-Q.jpeg","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/building-bridges-through-the-ballantyne-project-16fb03f4a75?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Building Bridges through the Ballantyne Project","content":"

Q&A’s with Dwight Ballantyne

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you call home and why?
I am from Montreal Lake Cree Nation but I call Maple Ridge, BC home now. I lived my first 21 years in Montreal Lake Cree Nation, a remote northern Saskatchewan First Nation, and moved to BC 5 1⁄2 years ago.

What community/communities are you part of ?
Growing up in a remote northern First Nation, I experienced a unique set of challenges and barriers that are never experienced or understood by the majority of Canadians. Since moving to an urban setting in 2016, I now am one of the few people who can explain the vast difference between these two worlds.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I am passionate about public speaking which is very ironic because I never imagined I would be doing this but I have discovered over the past two years that I want to use my voice to raise awareness about life on remote reserves. I am also passionate about going to the gym and playing hockey.

\"\"

How did the idea for this project come to you?
I started The Ballantyne Project because after moving to Maple Ridge, BC I realized that some people I met did not even know what a reserve was and if they did know, they definitely had no idea what it was like to live in a remote northern reserve. I had an opportunity to represent Team Canada at an International hockey tournament in 2019 and it was on the plane home that I made the decision to use my life experience to raise awareness.

What was your motivation behind this project?
At first I had no idea how I was going to bring my idea to life but in January 2020 I was asked to do a presentation at a high school in BC about my life. Word spread very quickly through the education system and before I knew it I was doing presentations to gymnasiums of students several times a week. The biggest challenge I have faced was when Covid 19 brought everything to a halt in April 2020 but I have used the past 15 months doing virtual presentations which has allowed me to expand my reach across Canada.

How did your community react to your project? Have they been encouraged to get involved in any other ways?
I have been surprised by the response I get when I share my life experiences. Educators and urban youth are very interested and engaged. Complete strangers from all across the country want to help with the needs of remote reserves once they understand the challenges that many of these communities face.

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
The impact has been much bigger than I could have imagined. I often say that I had no idea how just telling my story could make such a difference. My story seemed insignificant to me but once I started to share it I realized that I can use my voice to start to build a bridge between youth and young adults living in remote reserves and youth and young adults in more urban settings.

\"\"

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
The Ballantyne Project has impacted every part of my life. I had no idea that I would enjoy public speaking. It has also allowed me to meet so many new people, have new experiences and grow as a person. I am much more confident now in who I am and that what I have to share is valuable.

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
I don’t think I will do anything differently in the future. The only thing that will constantly change is that I will work on creating new presentations to keep expanding the information I share. I get to work on The Ballantyne Project full time and constantly meet new people and communities. I never would have thought this would be my life, especially growing up in a really remote community where I felt like I had no opportunities.

\"\"

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
I think that anyone considering a Rising Youth project should go for it. Find something that you are passionate about and then push yourself to get out of your comfort zone. You never know where it will take you.

\"\"

Building Bridges through the Ballantyne Project was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/640/1*CH8gqXFUJL3r15Zn0HLYQw.jpeg","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/building-a-community-library-96c55459884f?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"Building a Community Library","content":"

Q&A’s with Alain Lavoie

\"\"

What community/communities are you part of ?
A community is a group that you can identify with and develop a sense of belonging. This innate feeling was really felt when I arrived at the Université de Moncton and in the city of Dieppe where I still have the opportunity to grow as an individual. Coming from a small town in northwestern New Brunswick, Grand Falls, I never asked myself the question what is a community? With my various commitments since I started university, including #RisingYouth, I have had the opportunity to develop my own vision of the word community and I am grateful every day to be part of many communities.

#RisingYouth has allowed me to get to know many young francophones across the country who have a similar goal as I do, which is to contribute to the growth and development of their community. Often sharing the same values such as social justice, the environment and more, we, the youth, have the opportunity to achieve these goals through RisingYouth grants.

How did the idea for this project come to you?
Day after day, year after year, I felt powerless to help my community because of the lack of resources available to me. As a 4th year student in Elementary Education at the Université de Moncton, it is very obvious that educational resources such as books for internships are not accessible to everyone. People who do not have the financial means could find themselves without resources at their disposal and those with more means had this huge advantage of having them. So, I wanted to limit those disparities and allow all students and future generations of students to have equal access to those resources.

From there came the thoughtful idea of creating a resource library for people studying in education. I was just looking for that opportunity to take the first step and I heard about the #RisingYouth grants, which captured my interest. With the help of these grants, I was able to purchase many children’s books from a local bookstore and offer a job to a young carpenter to create this library for me.

\"\"

How did your community react to your project?
This project idea was very well received by the faculty, and to this day, they promote its existence to new students. I must admit that my most memorable moment of this project was probably the illuminated face of the lady in charge of the local bookstore when I told her that I wanted to encourage her enterprise. Her gratitude took the significance of my project to another level. After all, this library takes up my primary goal of contributing to my community.

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
An important element of my project is its infinite continuity. Even though this one was created during a pandemic period when few students were accessing the campus, it is reassuring to know that this library will be able to reduce the financial worry of students for decades to come.

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
Daring is often the most difficult step when you want to make a difference. To all the young people like me who want to change the world for the better, dare to take that first step and don’t hesitate to apply for a #RisingYouth grant. Receiving the resources to make that difference has never been such an easy and enjoyable process.

Anything else you would like to add?
I must make a special mention to #RisingYouth, who welcomed me with open arms into their community and, since that day, has given me many opportunities to surpass myself as an individual and meet young people across the country who are now considered friends.

\"\"

Building a Community Library was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}},{"node":{"thumbnail":"https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*FWTMR9ScHxR8NTA0qaDQAQ.jpeg","link":"https://medium.com/risingyouth/the-great-pumpkin-pick-up-f81b8be36cfd?source=rss----2ace4b510e78---4","title":"The Great Pumpkin Pick-Up","content":"

Q&A’s with Richard Huneault

\"\"

Where are you from? What place do you currently call home and why?
I’m originally from Calgary but moved to Vancouver Island to be closer to my sister and the ocean. Port Alberni brings the beautify of the ocean and waters to the forests and mountains. It is full of nature and opportunity.

What community/communities are you part of ?
I connect with almost everyone. My community are the people who I interact with regularly. They help round me or ground me. They lift me up and check me when I’m wrong. My community helps me understand myself and the world around me.

What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
I’ve always cared about others and interacting with hands on activities. I am also interest in farming and outdoors activities that lead to food waste recovery and landfill waste diverging. Seeing how food could be repurposed for compost and animals, and even sometimes for the food bank helped encourage me to start this project.

How did the idea for this project come to you?
The project came to me after seeing all the wasted food at farms or in restaurants. After Halloween you see hundred of potentially edible pumpkins, squashes, and gourdes rotting in yards and roadways. When I was in school for agriculture I saw how easy it was to have access to a large industrial kitchen for food processing and the rest was just getting volunteers.

\"\"

What was your motivation behind this project?
I had just moved to town and hadn’t gotten a full time job. I had the time for a project and a chance to meet people in the town I did not know. This gave me the opportunity to show the community who I was and how I can contribute.

How did your community react to your project? Have they been encouraged to get involved in any other ways?
People love seeing their pumpkins going to the food bank or to farm animals or rescues. They know they have contributed and that they have made an impact. I was overwhelmed with support and volunteers. People who wanted to give back and contribute to their communities even in the smallest ways.

\"\"

In retrospect, what was the impact of your project?
The project was much bigger than expected and without support from Rising Youth I would have been less equipped to properly and successful complete the project. We were able to feed hundred of animals and food bank recipients each year after Halloween with food that was going to be wasted.

How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
The recognition and networking help immensely. More people were willing to work with me and I was able to develop more opportunities for myself in my professional and personal life. I feel more accomplished and able to tackle new projects or challenges.

Were there some bumps along the road or things you may do differently in the future?
Soliciting volunteers and organizing a kitchen during COVID-19 had its challanges. But with the support of the community and #RisingYouth, I was about to prepare and plan for these new challenges. Next time, we could use more space, gloves, mask, hand sanitizer, a safety plan, etc.

\"\"

What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
Don’t be afraid to fail. You will never know what you are capable of if you don’t push yourself to do new or frightening things. The support you need is there so all you need to do is try.

\"\"

The Great Pumpkin Pick-Up was originally published in #RisingYouth on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

"}}]}}}